• FA Cup

Rooney says sorry to keeper after FA Cup penalty

ESPN staff
February 18, 2015
Grayson: Rooney didn't dive

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney apologised to Preston goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann for the way in which he won a penalty against him during Monday's FA Cup fifth round tie.

Rooney went down in the box to win the spot kick after Stuckmann rushed off his line to challenge him towards the end of the game.

The incident, which led to Rooney scoring from the spot to wrap up a 3-1 win for United at Deepdale, sparked controversy after replays showed the striker went down without contact from the Preston goalkeeper.

"After the game Rooney told me: 'Sorry, it was my chance to get a penalty. I had to use that,'" Stuckmann told the Sun.

Speaking as a BBC pundit, England manager Roy Hodgson defended Rooney against accusations that he dived to win the penalty, but Stuckmann took the opposite view.

"I say it clear: That was no penalty,'' he added. "I also believe that if the situation had happened the other way around, one of our strikers against the United keeper, the ref wouldn't have given the penalty. I have no doubt about that.''

When asked in the BBC studio after the match if Rooney had dived, England manager Hodgson said: "Not for me. I just think he was taking evasive action.

''If you are a referee in the run of play without replays I don't think any of us would have said it is not a penalty. The goalkeeper has gone with both feet. Wayne has touched it past him."

Wayne Rooney was accused of going down too easily after this incident at Preston © Getty Images
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